FFNHA unveils redesigned map brochure

By Johnny Szlauderbach

NEWS — MAY 22, 2025

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is proud to announce the release of its revised and updated map brochure and visitor’s guide, developed to help travelers and history enthusiasts navigate the rich tapestry of stories that shaped the American experience.

The brochure, which unfolds to approximately 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet, was designed to National Park Service standards and features a large-scale map of FFNHA’s 41 counties along with insets of Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, and St. Joseph. Its engaging, easy-to-use layout includes custom icons highlighting historical sites, museums, and community partners throughout the region. FFNHA’s previous map was released in 2011.

“Our new map brochure and visitor’s guide is more than a travel tool—it’s an invitation to connect with the past in a personal and meaningful way,” said Lucinda Adams, Executive Director of Freedom’s Frontier. “Whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering your local history, this guide helps you explore the people, places, and events that defined our national story.”

Features of the new guide include:

  • A massive, detailed fold-out map covering 41 counties along the Kansas-Missouri border
  • Thematic journeys focused on the Border War, westward settlement, Native American history, and more
  • A thought-provoking history of the region accompanied by stunning full-color photographs
  • A QR code linking to interactive content and additional trip-planning resources

Find the map free of charge at visitor centers and partner sites across FFNHA or online at freedomsfrontier.org/map.

View a PDF of the brochure here.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is sponsoring this program in partnership with the Missouri Humanities and with support from the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) builds awareness of struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Established by Congress in 2006, FFNHA covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. It promotes three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and enduring civil rights disputes. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized National Heritage Areas across the United States.